Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes

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Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes Bike Tour: Highlights

The Spanish Peaks of south central Colorado are among the most important landmarks in the southwestern United States, guiding Native American tribes, trappers, and American settlers. The Ute and other Indian tribes held the Peaks in religious awe and named the mountains Wahatoya, meaning “Breasts of the Earth.” Lizard Head Cycling’s Spanish Peaks and Great Sand Dunes National Park, one of our best Colorado Bicycle Tours, explores this remote region rich in biological diversity, history and scenic beauty.

Colorado is a land of contrasts with no bigger disparity then the transition from prairie to alpine environment. The eastern third of Colorado is the western edge of the Great Plains. As one heads west from Kansas, the landscape changes dramatically and seemingly out of nowhere, the Colorado Rockies rise in awe thousands of feet above the landscape. If you have never seen this, your jaw may scrape the pavement as this view appears before you.” – Michael Seeberg, author of Road Biking Colorado

“Being a lover of mountains and forests I did not expect to feel the way I did when documenting Colorado’s Great Plains. There is tremendous scenery with a feeling of immensity — a sense of vastness you can’t get in the mountain unless standing atop a peak. This is a not cornfield: its open range in a landscape that is anything but flat. In the winter, it’s a windswept and harsh a place as any. In the spring (late-April & May), it’s a vast rolling carpet of fluorescent green and wildflowers.” – Michael Seeberg, author of Road Biking Colorado

Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes Bike Tour: Dates

Potential tour dates are listed below and not all tour dates will run. Lock in your preferred tour date early as
unopened
tour dates will be closed. Please see the Spring/Autumn
Tour Calendar and the Summer Tour Calendar
for confirmed departures. Any unopened date can be a Custom Week (9 riders required). Please contact us
via
email or call 970.728.5891

Tour Cost: $2,790 per person.
Group discount of $200 per person for groups of 4 or more. Please see our Tour Discounts Policy.

NOTE: The tour includes 7-night of lodging from Sunday through Saturday.

Single Room Supplement: Add $595 to the Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (7 nights).

Bike Rental

Road Bike Rental: Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent
Scott CR-1 Pro and Scott Solace
carbon road bikes with full Shimano Ultegra components for only $250/week, or $150 for 3 or
4 day tours. Both the CR-1 and Solace models are sub- 17 lb comfortable, high performance
bicycles geared for climbing hills. In addition we also have electric bikes available for
rental at $375/week. And finally we have a selection of straight bar road bikes and kids
bikes in our rental fleet. Just let us know what you need and we can probably find it.

Electric Bike Rental: We now have a limited selection of
SCOTT
electric bikes that can be reserved for our tours. These are road bikes with straight bars that make the
slowest rider the fastest rider in the group. Rental Price is $375/week.

Couples Bike Rental Discount: Sign up as a couple and receive one free
bike high performance rental per couple ($250 value).

Tandems and Recumbents: Lizard Head Cycling Guides happily accommodates
both tandem and recumbent bikes on its tours.

Additional Activities: Swimming, waterfalls, massage, and yoga. For private groups we can offer a spectacular hike of 14,000-foot Culebra peak on Day 3.

Meals On Tour

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepares healthy lunches to keep
you
going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses
and
of course plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies. We pride ourselves on being able to cater to
specific
dietary requests, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works for you during the week. Gluten
Free, Dairy Free or a someone who loves it all – we will keep you well fed during the tour!

Dinners: Lizard Head Cycling sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our
guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients. Guests choose whatever they desire to eat off
the
menu: including appetizer, salad, entree and of course dessert... yum!
Also, while on tour if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go
to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Overall Route Map

NOTE: During the tour Lizard Head Cycling offers a few short shuttles to avoid undesirable car clustered sections.

Ability Level: Can I Ride This Tour?

Definition of Ability Levels = Intermediate (2/3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 1 to 3 times a week for a total of 50 or more
miles. = Upper Intermediate (3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 2 to 4 times a week for a total of 75 or
more miles. = Advanced (3/4) Rides and/or takes spin classes 3 to 5 times a week for a total of 100 or more
miles. Has ridden multi-day tours and done a century ride. = Expert (4) Rides 4 or more times per week totaling 150 or more miles. Rides E.F.I. with
regularity. Has done numerous multi-day tours, century rides and races.

How Fit do I Have to Be?
If one month prior to the tour, you can ride 2 to 3 times a week equalling a total of 75 or more miles a week, you'll
do just fine. We like to jokingly say that "one is ready for a Lizard Head Cycling Tour when they are finished with
tour" and this is true! The only way to simulate a week long bike tour is to go on a week long tour.

Our average rider age is 55 years. These are bike tours, not races so we take our time to stop, take pictures and
see the sights. We have all day to reach our destination and most riders take "bumps" at some points. We offer
reduced mileage options for each day. Of course if someone wants to ride E.F.I. (Every Freaking Inch), we love to
show them all the extra climbs, loops and hidden canyons that can be included!

Do the Bump!
Daily mileage options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy this tour. One of our favorite options is to give
cyclists a "bump" via the support vehicle, or a 10 to 20 mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time.
After the bump the rider is "off the front" and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left
behind the group. They'll then have time to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. All cyclists come together in
time for lunch. Afterwards, cyclists can take another bump and/or continue riding.

Seamless Mileage Options
Lizard Head Cycling Guides designs multiple mileage options for each tour – something we're well known for in our
business. This technique is similar to heliskiing in that one does not ski everything, they ski the best. :-)

Slow or Fast?
Many cyclists who sign up for our tours have worried themselves silly about not being able to keep up, but then
they're surprised to find that all the worrying was about nothing. They do just fine! Slow and Fast only exist relative
to other cyclists. Speed does not matter as long as one is moving on the bike. As long as one is moving, they are
truly going fast enough.

If you have questions about your ability to ride this tour, please contact our office via email or call us at
970.728.5891 - we'll more than happy to guide you!

it is about a week we are back home from a fantastic trip to Colorado. We had the best time ever and I am pretty sure I want to come back to North America to ride my bike again. We were lucky to have a great weather day by day, the itinerary was perfectly set up, we enjoyed all kind of landscapes, we had a nice bunch of cyclists and there was always a warm and friendly atmosphere in the group and with the guides. We took home a huge number of beautiful pictures but those most memorable are written deeply into our memories. This trip exceeded my best expectations and my thanks go to all of you organizers. – Tomas

Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes Bike Tour: Itinerary*

*Tour itineraries are subject to change and
modification based on the group,
available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances including weather,
wildfires, flooding, hurricanes,
landslides and/or other acts of nature. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to
what to expect on this tour.

Day 1: Florissant to Cañon City, CO50 miles with up to 2,850 feet of climbing

We begin our tour from deep within the front range with inspiring views on well paved roads along rolling terrain as we plummet nearly 5,500′ during the course of a 50-mile trek from Florissant to Canon City. Beware! There are some punchy climbs on the way down to Canon City. A treat near the end of the day will be a short section of narrow road called Skyline Drive that follows a ridge top traverse. The day ends in Cañon City’s municipal park.

En route to Cañon City

Skyline Drive above Cañon City

Beauty alert!

Elevation Profile: +2850 ft / -5690 ft

Day 2: Florence to Colorado City, CO60 miles with up to 6,215 feet of climbing

Starting from Florence today’s route begins with gentle climbing into the Wet Mountains that soon turns to steep climbing between the 11 to 22 mile mark. After the turn south onto the Greenhorn Highway, we enjoy a tremendous piece of road. The views of the Wet Mountains and Sangre De Christos during the day are spectacular and to the east, it appears one can see all the way to Kansas! After a stop at the uniquely strange Bishop Castle, there are a series of rollers and then a screaming 13-mile descent down through the Huckleberry Hills to Colorado City to end the ride at Obie’s Fillin’ Station for BBQ. We shuttle to Trinidad, Colorado for our accommodations at the Tarabino Inn.

San Isabel Lake

Wildlife along the Greenhorn Highway

The view from Bishop Castle

Elevation Profile: +6215 ft / -5605 ft

Day 3: Trinidad to La Veta, CO66 miles with up to 5,665 feet of climbing

Today ride The Highway of the Legends Scenic Byway around the Spanish Peaks. The route climbs up and over 9,995-foot Cuchara Pass and then quickly descends to the town of La Veta (7,013-feet) for tonight’s lodging. This is a big climb to Cuchara Pass with a real steep kick at the end. As a result there are big king of the mountain points to be gained on Cuchara Pass! From atop the pass it is a fast descent to end the day.

Highway of the Legends Scenic Byway

Sangre de Christos and storm in the background

Elevation Profile: +5665 ft / -4710 ft

Day 4: La Veta to Great Sand Dunes National Park61 miles with up to 3,270 feet of climbing

From La Veta, Colorado we’ll ride up to North La Veta Pass (9,413-feet) and after the descent through the towns of Fort Garland and Blanca while traversing around southern base of 14,000-foot Blanca Peak. The riding from the 4-mile mark to the 13-mile mark climbs North La Veta Pass. At the top the pavement improves and the shoulder widens for the rest of the ride to the Great Sand Dunes National Park!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Hiking in the Great Sand Dunes

Elevation Profile: +3270 ft / -2195 ft

Day 5: Moffat to Gunnison, CO87 miles with up to 3,500 feet of climbing

Today we’ll ride across the 7,000-foot San Luis valley past endless fields of potatoes. From the town of Saguache the route follows Hwy 114 for 62-miles toward Gunnison. Highway 114 is a beautiful road that crosses the continental divide at North Pass and then descends nearly 40-miles into Gunnison.

Cattle on the range

Along CO 114 on the way to Gunnison

Elevation Profile: +3500 ft / -3370 ft

Day 6: Gunnison to Creede, CO – The Cannibal Classic!106 Man-Eating-Miles with up to 8,400 feet of climbing (Optional: 75-Mile ride)

The “Cannibal Classic” is one of the most challenging stages of the tour having earned its name from the infamous Alfred Packer, a miner who became snowbound on an ill-fated journey into the San Juan Mountains in the late 1800’s. Come spring, Packer was the only remaining miner alive from his party of six, looking pretty healthy. He had literally eaten his compatriots!

At approximately mile 58, you will take on one of the steepest paved mountain passes in Colorado – Slumgullion Pass at an elevation of 11,530 feet! This monster is a 6 mile climb that ascends nearly 3,000 feet; its average 7% to 9% grades feels particularly brutal coming at mile 90 of the Cannibal Classic.

At the top, you’ll descend 4 miles and then climb another 4 miles at a mere 4% grade to Spring Creek Pass and the Continental Divide. From Spring Creek, it’s just about a 30-mile descent to the wild west town of Creede.

Slumgullion Pass

Creede, Colorado

Elevation Profile: +8185 ft / -7175 ft

Day 7: Creede to Pagosa Springs, CO64 miles with up to 3,400 feet of climbing

Riding south from Creede, you’ll pedal across the remote headwaters of Rio Grande watershed. The largest wilderness area in Colorado, the Weimuniche Wilderness, borders this lush region. After climbing the impressive Wolf Creek Pass (10,863’) near the end of the day, you’ll have climbed over the Continental Divide for the second time in two days.

Thrill to a 4,000-foot descent from Wolf Creek to Pagosa Springs along the headwaters of the San Juan River. We’ll be in close proximity to New Mexico and get a whiff of the state’s famous and fragrant green chile. After arriving in Pagosa Springs, you will enjoy a much-needed and deserved soak in the hot springs before a short shuttle to Durango, Colorado where we’ll check into our final night of lodging at the historic Strater Hotel.

Atop Wolf Creek Pass

Wolf Creek Pass, Descent to Pagosa Springs

Elevation Profile: +3620 ft / -5255 ft

Spanish Peaks & Great Sand Dunes Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Bike Shipping

Lizard Head Cycling recommends shipping with BikeFlights.com. Bikes can be shipped either to our partner
bike shop in each meeting town
for professional assembly or directly to the meeting hotel for self-assembly. Bike
boxes can generally be left at the
meeting hotel during the tour. Bikes shipped across the continental US should be
shipped 8 days prior to your tour.

Meals: Any dietary preferences or allergies should be noted on the registration form. Each of Lizard Head Cycling’s lunches contains gluten free options.

Ride Difficulty: This custom tour is designed for INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED cyclists with various levels of fitness. Each day there are additional mileage options for advanced riders.

Tour Support: A 15-passenger van and trailer that carries luggage, food and equipment will support this tour.

General Tour & Cancellation
Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and
cancellation policies, which can be found by
clicking here.

Travel Insurance

Lizard Head Cycling Guides highly recommends clients purchase Travel Insurance through MH Ross Travel
Insurance. A policy can be purchased individually through the sales link below or Lizard Head Cycling Guides can
also set-up a policy for its clients.

The estimated cost for a 50-year old buying insurance for a $2,500 tour ranges from $100 (standard plan) to
about $200 (cancel for any reason plan).